Running shoe



June 16 1925. B. J. CRAIG RUNNING SHOE Filed April 18. 1922 .m r, I

Patented June 16, 1925.

PATENT oF Ic BURNIE J. CRAIG, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

RUNNING SHOE.

Application filed April 18, 1922. Serial No. 555,080.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BURNIE'J. CRAIG, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certainnew and useful Improvement in Running Shoes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to .the accompanying drawings. i

This invention relates to shoes and particularly to. athletic shoes such as are worn by contestants in sporting events wherein the speed attained in running is an important factor of the sport.

The general object of the invention is to provide a shoe for athletes which will enable the wearer to secure the maximum results from the energy expended.

1 In running it is essential that the stride, or step, of a runner be as long as possible and this invention contemplates the provision of means on a running shoe which will enable the stride of a runner to be lengthened materially without unduly increasing the efi'ort required to produce the increase in stride.

-In running shoes heretofore constructed, the spikes have been merely large tacks which were circular in cross section and which ta ered from their point of attachment to t e shoe to the end which was some what sharpened. In running at top speed, a runners foot strikes the ground with the sole of the shoe almost parallel with the track. When the shoe strikes in thismanner, the spikes are not pushed in vertically but are advanced to position by cutting through the track. In completing the stride and before thecutting action is entirely completed, the shoe turns with the toe as a pivot until, when the runner springs for his step only the end portion rests upon the ground. The sole of the shoe meanwhile becomes somewhat arched from the flat position it took when the slide mentioned was started.

With the former shoe, the resistance fered the cutting action mentioned caused by the round spikes, interfered somewhat with the runner and when he moved onto his toe to secure the push for the next step, the shoe slipped back a slight distance; no material resistance being offered by the rounded surface of the spikes. The round surface merely acts to stir up the ground and does not provide a good surface from which to spring.

The object of the invention is to overcome the difficulties mentioned by constructs: spike which is preferably stream line in front .7 so that when it strikes and cuts through the. ground, the surface is merely parted as by a knife so that the act of placing the foot on the ground does not distua the runners balance. The rear of the spike is made .plane or concave of such section that it will pack the ground when it is pushed rearwardly. Each spike is preferably arranged with its rear perpendicularly to the sole, while the front of the spike makes an acute angle with the rear surface and this enables the spike to have a thick root and a sharp point. With this improvement, the spike pierces tlietraek easily and the runner in springing forward has a packed surface to push from which serves to reactagainst the forward push. This enables him to utilize the full amount of the energy derived from his mus action.

Further and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the followinr specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. l is a bottom plan view of a running shoe embodying the features of my invention 2 is a side elevation of the shoe; Fig. 3 is an enlarged section; Fig. 4- is a side elevation of a spike; Fig. 5 is a rearelevation and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the same spike; Fig. -7 is a perspective view of a modified form of spike, and Fig. 8 is a view showing the effect produced when one of the spikes is inserted in the ground in the act of running.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, I have shown a running sho 5; which may comprise an upper 10 provided with an inner sole 11 and an outer sole or tap 12. r Y

The spikes, shown at 15, are preferably made of metal and may be provided with a head 16 or other means for anchoring them in place. The spikes are shown with the head secured between the inner sole and the tap sole with the point piercing the latter. The rear surface 30 of the spikes is preferably constructed to be perpendicular to the sole of the shoe when secured in place and this rear surface may be plane, as shown at best results, I now prefer to make the spike.

concave-convex in cross section at the point and gradually merging into a substantially concavo-triangular sectional shape at the cave surface faces the rear. 7 r

It 18 desirable to provide means to prevent the spikes turning from their proper position. To do this, apertures'2 'are made in the headandtlitoti'gh the apertures nails 26 are inserted. M

Any number of spikes may be used ina shoe, arranged in any desired manner. In the drawing, 1' have shown sik spike's'in tivo diverging"celiimiis; In c'onstructinga shoe, the tap sole may be provided with aperture's" through which the spikes may be inserted. The nails 26 may then be'placedin position, the spike being thus secured against turning. After this operation, the tap sole may be secured to the shoe. Other means for securing the spikes in place will be apparent to the shoemaker but at present Iprefer to construct the shoe as set forth.

As' stated above, in running the" ruiiner drags his'loot above the ground just before the spike is inserted. This is shown on a somewhat exaggerated scale in Fig. l 8, wherein at 30 a spike is sho'ivn just entering the ground as thei'uhner puts'doivn his foot. At 31, the spike is partly inserted ahd at 32 the spike is fully in the ground. The shaded portion 33 indicates the areain'the rear of the spike which has beeii loosened.

With my improved construction, the extent of this area is much reduced" and in pushing reai'ivardly in taking hisne'Xt stride the runner packs the ground with the rear surface of the spike and consequently his grip is better and a longe'r stride results. The advantage gained with each Ste 1 in using the improved shoe is of course quite small, but astlie running races areseldom less than' 100 yards,' the distance gained ivitheach step is nitiltipliedinany times and amounts to a matter of several' feet during arace. This added distance is of great importanc'etdthe runner; I

Having thus described"n1y invention, I cla'iin': p

1. A running shoe comprisihg a flexible light upper having a light sole secured thereon; a rigid" gripping-i spike on said sole and projecting therefrom, said'spike'having a flat head, means for securing the head of the spike to the sole, the shank of said spike being non-circular in cross section and having distinctly defined front and back portions, the front of the spike being more or less'sharp topartthe surface of the ground as the shoe strikes it and the back of the spike having 'no' portion projecting rear- Wardly beyond the side edges ot'the spike.

2A. running shoe col'i'iprisinga flexible light upper having a' light sole secured thereon, a plurality of individual, spaced, metallic gripping spikes on said sole and projecting therethrough, said spikes having flat heads secured'to the light sole,"each"of said spikes being substantially concave conveX in cross sectionivith tl1e;co1iveX portion disposed in front and the" concave part being disposed iii the rear so that thespikes pack the ground when the shoe is pushed rearwardly. V i

3. A running'shoe comprising a flexible light upper having a light sole seciired thereon, a plurality of gripping spikes on said sole and projecting therefroi'nimeafis for seem-mg the spikes to the soie said spikestapering uniformly from their root to the'point,the fro'nt of each spike being more or less sharp to part the surface of the ground as the shoe strikes it and the rearo'f eacli'spike being arranged substantially"perpendicular to the sole of the shoe to resist dragging through'theground'when the spikes are pushed rearwardly, and n'ieans on said spikes to prevent them turning relative to the sole. v

4. A running shoe comprising a flexible light upper having a light sole secured thereon, a plurality of gripping spikes'ektending through said sole and projecting therefrom, a fiat head o'ii said gripping spikes for securing them to the sole, said spikes tapering from their point to their root, said point being'sharpened, thes pikes near their point being concave-convex in eross section and the spikes near their roots having a concave rear side and an angular front side. I p 7 H r In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

BURNIE J1 eerie Illa 

